Freak Lightning Strike at LA Beach Kills 1, Injures 12

posted by Rob Quinn, Newser Staff
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2 years ago

(NEWSER) – A rare band of summer thunderstorms left one person dead and a dozen injured from lightning strikes at Venice Beach in Los Angeles yesterday. Witnesses tell the Los Angeles Times that the storm seemed to come from nowhere and lasted 15 minutes, causing panic as fishermen and beachgoers rushed to find shelter. A National Weather Service spokesman says lightning hit the water and the beach at least four times. A coroner's office spokesman says the dead man is in his mid-20s and that it's too early to say whether he was killed by "lightning strike, drowning, or being trampled by the crowd."